If normal exercise leaves you out of breath and gasping for air, a medical condition is probably the root of the problem. According to Medical News Today, the likely culprit for shortness of breath, especially in children, is asthma. If medication to control asthma does not work for you, investigate other problems that may be causing the shortness of breath.
Asthma
Asthma is the most common cause of exercise-induced shortness of breath in children and adolescents. The condition can occur later in life, too, especially at the start of an exercise program or in air that is cold and dry. Pollution, high pollen counts, chemicals, respiratory infections or simply being out of shape can trigger or worsen the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
Asthma Symptoms and Treatments
The main symptoms of exercise-induced asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue or poor performance. These symptoms can occur right after starting, during or after a workout. Doctors will usually perform lung function tests to form a base diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma. Most patients are then started on bronchodilator inhalers, which are designed to be used before exercise or when symptoms present themselves. Other medications can be used to control the symptoms and problems long-term if they are allergy-related or if severe asthma symptoms present themselves.
Overexertion and Other Causes
Many patients may be diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, then fail to respond to medications. These patients may have experienced shortness of breath simply because of overexertion or they merely reached their natural limit for exercise, Medical News Today says. Shortness of breath can also be caused by heart problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary disease or blood clots. Blood tests, echocardiograms and stress tests can help determine the cause of the problems.
Prevention
To prevent shortness of breath when exercising, stay within your means -- but don't stop your workouts. Being out of shape or overweight can contribute to problems in the first place. The Mayo Clinic advises doing warmup exercises before a workout and avoiding exercise with a cold or in the presence of allergens. Learn to breathe through your nose and choose a humid environment to exercise in, if possible, because warm air helps you to breathe better.
